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I’M FINE... AND OTHER LIES - A HOPE RESTORING HALF-HOUR DRAMA TV PILOT

I’M FINE... AND OTHER LIES - A HOPE RESTORING HALF-HOUR DRAMA TV PILOT
By Bradford Richardson

GENRE: Drama, Family
LOGLINE:

Psychiatrist Beth Keene is on the verge of burn-out. When an incident with an influential ex-patient results in Beth’s unjust suspension, she’s required to serve six months as a Crisis Hotline Operator where the ensemble of misfits she must work with to save unhinged callers leads her to rediscover the good in people, and herself.


Comps - The dark revealing humor and heart of SHRINKING.

SYNOPSIS:

I’m Fine... is about the shared experience of being human and how empathy can reach through the absurdly dark and isolating moments in life to inspire hope and healing.

Co-created by LeAnne Wilcox & Bradford Richardson. Written by Bradford Richardson.

Rachel Burger, Season One Staff Writer for ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING: "I’M FINE... has incredible dark humor, yet, it’s hope-inspiring & informative without preaching. And it tackles somewhat taboo subject matter flawlessly. Psychiatrist, Beth Keene is super strong, and even though she's very layered, I understood her right away. She’s empathetic and there’s a rawness to her that feels very real. All the support characters are strong! Each has their own unique voice."

2021, Top Ten Finalist in Roadmap Writers Top Tier Competition.

The Pilot Episode - Psychiatrist, Beth Keene, has zero patience for people who refuse to accept responsibility for their own actions, people like ex-patient, Martin Powell, the young and influential Stakeholder Relations Manager of Powell Medical Center where Beth is the Lead Psychiatrist. When Martin staggers high & drunk into Beth’s hospital office, demanding help with earning the respect of his father, hospital founder, William Powell, Beth refuses to consult with him until he submits himself into a treatment program. Before Hospital Security can lead Martin away, he escapes out onto the 5th floor balcony of Beth's office, then while attempting a selfie, stumbles off the ledge. Beth spots him thirty feet below, on the flat roof with a broken leg, “This is all your fault,” he screams.

The Hospital Board spins the narrative of events to protect the Powell family and suspends Beth. The Board orders Beth to work six months as a crisis call center operator under the supervision of jaded-idealist, Psychiatrist, Gary Santos, Director of the Hope Line Call Center.

Beth's call center Mentor is the decisively self-assured yet wild at heart, Anna Finch. Beth and Anna couldn’t be more opposite yet there’s a potential for a real friendship. Anna introduces Beth to her fellow call center operators, an ensemble of kindhearted misfits who refuse to accept her as being one of them, yet they will eventually become the supportive family Beth never could’ve imagined.

When Call Center Director, Gary, learns the Call Center has been de-funded. He keeps it to himself, telling only Anna that they've got 90 days to find an angel-funder. Gary has an epiphany, Beth's credentials and celebrity just might help in the search.

Looking Forward - Beth is forced to move back in with her disconnected parents. Beth appeals to Martin Powell to be the angel funder. This could be his opportunity to prove to his father he can stand on his own, but Martin harshly rejects the idea. The next day, Beth is shocked when Gary excitedly introduces Martin as the call center’s new angel funder. Martin winks at Beth as he takes all the credit for the idea of saving the call center, then privately reveals to her he’s planning to use the call center as a stepping-stone to bypass his father and run for City Mayor.

Week to Week - Ongoing episodes will focus on one or two "Callers In Crisis" who’ve lost hope and believe their lives are on the line. Beth, and her misfit team will do what ever it takes to help them rediscover the hope and potential in their lives. In turn, Beth begins to rediscover the good in people and accepts that her jaded pragmatism isn’t her greatest strength. Each episode is meant to leave viewers feeling renewed hope for their own lives and inspired to connect with other people.

Why Now - Hope, human connection and healing. Beth's encounters with unhinged callers in crisis demonstrates that we’re all connected by the catharsis of the human experience. Compassion & humor can transform a crisis caller's isolation into a shared sense of hope. No one is truly alone.

Why Us - I'M FINE is inspired by the hope-renewing experiences of Psychologist, LeAnne Wilcox who stepped away from her executive role within a major Health Insurance provider in Saint Paul, MN to work in behavioral health & crisis intervention as the Director of America's largest Crisis Call Center in Portland. Late in 2024, family responsibilities brought LeAnne back to St. Paul where she became the Director of Case Management for the city’s program for the reintegration of homeless community members. LeAnne is also an author of Dark Micro-Fiction, under the pen name, Tansy Undercrypt.

As for me, at 17, after my Mom’s 3rd attempted suicide, I set-out on my own in Minnesota. My awkward exploits in food service, dinner theater, plus two summers as an amateur stock car driver, led me to become the Lead Graphic Designer for the Coen Brothers' FARGO and THE BIG LEBOWSKI. Life’s misadventures, and years of being told what’s out of my reach, led me to discover my brand: Heartfelt Dramedy, for Features and Series, about misfits struggling to become who they were always meant to be.

I've been lucky to study with Blake Snyder, Jen Grisanti, Jessica Bendinger, and now the wonderful Holiday RomCom Writer, Carley Smale. I won Top Ten and Cinestory and lunch with Christopher McQuarrie. Won 2nd Place and also Top Five Best Screenplay at ScreamfestLA, and became an Amazon Studios Best Screenplay Competition Semi-Finalist. Was short-listed in both the NBC and ABC TV Writers Showcases. And so much more...

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