Author email
  castguy@gmail.com
http://lotus-films.com

Overview: "A Name for People Like Me"

Based on the comedic coming-of-age novel with the same title, this story
begins in 1970 blue-collar, suburban Boston. Our five-year-old hero, who we’ll call
Shawn, finds himself an outcast amongst his fellow kindergarten classmates. Poor
Shawn is not entirely sure why he’s alienated them, but he thinks it might have
something to do with his Show and Tell presentations, like “Everyone Dies, even Mr.
Rogers” and “The Santa Claus Lie.” Neither were crowd-pleasers. When Shawn’s
teacher bans him from the activity, his sense of inadequacy is cemented.
Without supportive parents, who wish their son were Greg Brady, Shawn
moves through his elementary school years with further alienation. Yet, not all is
lost for Shawn when Kenny, a new boy in town, moves in next door.
Thankfully, Kenny isn’t like all the other boys in the neighborhood. He likes
to read, express his creative side, and gossip about the other neighbors. They
become inseparable buddies, and for a time, Shawn almost doesn’t care about his
outsider status.
This relative happiness is short-lived, however. When puberty hits, Shawn
finds himself experiencing unacceptable thoughts and desires. When Kenny
describes masturbatory fantasies of The Dukes of Hazzard’s Daisy Duke, Shawn can’t
understand why his erotic imaginings focus on Bo and Luke.
Later in high school, Shawn slips into depression and must rely on antidepressants,
at the relief of his mother who thought he was schizophrenic.
Furthermore, Shawn has a particularly difficult time accepting that his beloved
friend Kenny now has a girlfriend named Bonnie. Cutting his time with Kenny,
Shawn secretly hopes a late-orbiting chunk of Skylab will fall on Bonnie’s head.
Filled with self-loathing, Shawn takes a job at a tacky miniature golf course
prior to attending college. But when a German new worker arrives like a print-ad for
Jockey underwear, Shawn perks up.
Gunther, blond, blue-eyed and packed with muscle, turns out to be
sophisticated and worldly. He takes Shawn to museums, art galleries, and foreign
films. When it’s time for Gunther to return to Germany, he unexpectedly plants a
mouthwatering kiss onto Shawn. Shawn initially stumbles with his re-awakened
identity, however, he finally finds self-acceptance.
While at college, Shawn comes across a chance to have sex for the first time –
with a fraternity guy. After blundering his first opportunity, he has several wild
experiences until realizing he needs something more. He then attends a meeting
with the Gay & Lesbian Center and meets Patrick, someone with impeccable
integrity.
Shawn feels Patrick would never date him. However, after a series of
misunderstandings, unspoken and regrettably spoken words, Shawn learns that
Patrick had been interested in him all along. And with Patrick’s help, Shawn
manages to face his therapist directly and dumps him while exclaiming who he is –
“Sean with an ea not an aw and Garrity with just an a. Sean Garrity. I am Sean
Garrity!”

Awards Won

- 2022 LGBTQ Unbordered International Film Festival: Official Selection &
PLATINUM AWARD Winner
- 2021 Page Turner Screenplays First 15 Competition: Quarter-Finalist



Overview: "Appearances"


Logline:
After a stressed-out mother gives birth to a rare, true intersex child, she hastily
decides to have the vaginal opening closed - against the wishes of her immediate
family but to the hospital’s approval. A day later, the stepfather suddenly
disappears, and the mother is found unconscious in a pool of her own blood.
Synopsis:
A progressive, multi-ethnic family is shaken into a new reality when 20-something
Dorothy gives birth to a different, yet healthy child. After enduring a 3-day labour,
Dorothy faints after giving birth.
Later, as Dorothy awakens, she overhears the doctor explaining to Dorothy’s family
that the child should undergo an operation, even though the child is actually healthy.
Dorothy is utterly confused. Her 20-something husband, Greg, who was thrilled at
being the child’s stepfather, is at a complete loss. Dorothy’s mother, Maggie, reveals
that her child was born intersex: her child has both sex organs and equal levels of
male and female hormones – a rare and true intersex.
Dorothy is convinced her baby, Robert, is a boy from seeing her initial ultrasound.
Exhausted from giving an arduous birth, Dorothy quickly agrees on the operation of
closing the vaginal opening. Though Greg is uncertain, he goes along with Dorothy’s
decision, just like he always does on most matters. Dorothy’s father, Peter, has been
away on business, and Maggie pleads with Dorothy to wait until he returns the next
day to get his opinion. Because of Dorothy’s strong bond with her father, Dorothy
agrees but still schedules the operation to occur in two days. Dorothy’s adopted gay
brother, Ken, begins researching Robert’s “condition”, and from his findings, he
sides with Maggie.
Peter, a 20-year politician and Maggie’s 25-year husband, returns from campaigning
and is stunned at the news of his grandchild. Dorothy’s condition is a deep concern
for him as well, especially since Peter was a stay-at-home dad for the very first few
years of Dorothy’s life. Peter sees how she needs all the support she can get and,
therefore, sides with Dorothy. Peter also secretly and irrationally fears Robert’s
“state” may hurt his upcoming re- election.
As the operation draws near, Ken, who has had identity issues himself, becomes
emotionally involved in “saving” Robert from this operation. With Peter supporting
Dorothy on her decision to have the operation, clashes ensue amongst the family. To
add to the squabbles, uncertainty, and fear surrounding the family, Greg suddenly
disappears. Dorothy becomes terrified that Greg has left her and Robert, just like the
jerk that got her pregnant.
Afterwards, Peter alarmingly discovers his beloved daughter, Dorothy, unconscious
with blood oozed from her vagina. Later in the hospital, Dorothy slips into a coma.
And to everyone’s surprise, Greg shows up. But why did he leave?
Will Dorothy awaken and recover? With Dorothy comatose and Robert’s operation
looming, will Greg make the best decision for his child? Eventually, the emotional
stress takes its toll, and Greg breaks down, revealing a deeply disturbing, dark
secret. After Greg’s revelation, Maggie presses the doctor for details and discovers
the unknown truth about how the medical establishment generally “takes care” of
intersex babies.


Awards Won
 • 2022 LGBTQ Unbordered International Film Festival: Official
Selection & SILVER AWARD Winner
     • 2022 Page Turner Screenplays FEATURE DRAMA COMPETITION: Semi-Finalist
     • 2021 Page Turner Screenplays First 15 Competition: Quarter-Finalist
     • 2017 Academy Nicholl Fellowships Screenwriting Competition: Positive
reviews from all readings