After contracting a terminal illness, an aspiring auteur struggles to make his first feature film while being exploited by a renowned entertainment producer.

SYNOPSIS:

Oscar Betts is a self-proclaimed auteur living with his wife and children in the Gillikin countryside. While writing for the Emerald Times, he is invited to a private meeting with Frank Goldwyn, a renowned film and television producer. Oscar sets off the following morning and catches a train to the Emerald City. He arrives after sundown and meets Frank at a nearby tavern with signed portraits of famous movie stars. Frank reveals his interest in making a musical adaptation of “Winter Wonderment”, Oscar’s best-selling fantasy novel. Oscar accepts the offer and signs the paperwork. On the way home, he coughs into his handkerchief and discovers a few specks of blood. Oscar looks out the window and remembers his lifelong dream of becoming a successful writer and director. While spending time with his family, he searches his study for a screenplay he wrote five years ago. He revises the script, allocates his life’s savings to his first feature film production, and secretly quits his job.

Oscar returns to the Emerald City to catch up with his childhood friend and music composer, Cyril Lahr. He offers him the opportunity to compose the music for his movie but suddenly learns that Frank has hired him for the musical adaptation. Instead, he refers Oscar to a cheaper and less experienced musician named Lorraine Hamilton. Lorraine and Oscar meet the following day and discuss terms on music composition. Lorraine reluctantly signs the paperwork Oscar had typed the week before. When tasked to hire a cinematographer, sound recorder, and assistant director, he contacts Frank in a phone booth and lists a few names. Oscar visits each individual over the next two weeks, assembling his skeletal crew. While scouting locations on a map, Oscar is surprised when his two children, Mary and Timothy, express their interest in playing the protagonists. Frank calls him again to confirm another meeting scheduled for the following month. Oscar reluctantly agrees and puts himself in a position to finish shooting the film in three weeks. With his health slowly deteriorating, he begins shooting the first sequence in his cottage.

Frank and Cyril partner with Henry Bolger, a critically acclaimed director from the Quadling Country. Promised a hefty paycheck, Henry appoints himself as screenwriter and co-lyricist of Frank’s adaptation. Frank schedules the production date two months in advance and scraps his plan to hire Oscar as production supervisor. With Henry and Cyril writing the script, Frank sets off to the Gillikin Country and requests Oscar’s original synopsis and treatment for “Winter Wonderment”. Oscar refuses, which infuriates Frank. With their partnership faltering, Oscar returns home and spends a fortnight filming sequences three, four, five and six. His health takes a turn for the worst when he collapses on set. After waking up in a hospital, he learns that his wife and children have been invited to a film festival in the city palace. The doctor informs Oscar that he cannot be discharged until tomorrow. At the station, Mary and Timothy board the last train to the Emerald City. They set off at 3 o’clock, with the engine crew consisting of a newly qualified driver and fireman. Two hours later, a series of miscalculations causes the locomotive to derail at speed, hauling carriages off-track and into the trees. Oscar leaves the hospital and hears about the accident at a nearby village. Medics confirm that Oscar’s wife and children are among the 219 fatalities. Devastated, Oscar falls into chronic alcoholism.

Henry and Cyril complete the script and send it to Frank on the brink of winter. Cyril prepares to book a trip to Munchkin Land before receiving a suicidal letter from Oscar. He immediately catches a train to the Gillikin countryside and finds him sitting in his cottage with cuts on his wrists and bloodshot eyes. Oscar mentions his suffering and decision to sell the farm and orchard. Heartbroken, Cyril takes him in and resigns from Frank’s production company. Frank loses the plot and threatens to sue him as the two men help each other complete the film's third act. Oscar uses the last of his savings to pay for its release in the city theatre. On the 14th of December, he and Cyril arrive at the premiere with several hundred people. Oscar addresses the crowd and expresses his gratitude to Cyril and the crew. The movie plays with the potential to earn critical praise. In the end, Oscar bursts into tears and receives a six-minute ovation.

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Est. Script Length: 120 pages

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