BULLY! (Teddy Roosevelt and the Panama Canal)
CHARGE! Rough Rider President Teddy Roosevelt takes on all comers – Banana Republics, Wall Street bigwigs and Congress – to build the Panama Canal. The real story. Can be expanded to TV miniseries. Professional Coverage: “Recommend” Dave Trottier (Author “The Screenwriter’s Bible.”) SEMI-FINALIST Fade In Awards rue Story/Bio Competition
TR upsets the staid Washington political scene with his enthusiasm and progressive ideas. His first project: the interoceanic canal between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, either through Panama or Nicaragua. The Nicaraguan route is popular and is being championed by Congress. TR says he’s neutral (Or is he?) and insists Congress decide the route. But he’s suspicious of foreign involvement and a Panama beset by revolutionaries seeking secession from Colombia.
Meanwhile French promoter Philippe Barilla enlists the service of Washington lobbyist William Nelson to change the national mood about Panama. Nelson believes this can be done but will require “something big” to make it happen.
Nelson then secures the monetary support of Financier J.P.Morgan, who sees it as an opportunity to own a country!
Anticipating potential military action in Panama, TR sends two Army spies to survey the military options. The spies verify the involvement of Germany operatives.
A volcanic eruption on Martinique galvanizes world-wide fear of volcanoes. Then, on the eve of approval of the Nicaraguan route, it is reported that Mount Momotombo, in Nicaragua, has also erupted. (Or did it?) Nelson and Barilla follow-up with anti-Nicaraguan pamphlets and, with Morgan’s money, they intimidate Congress. The Panama route is approved.
Then, Colombia, in hopes of getting more money from America, reneges on permission to build a canal. TR, enraged, plans an invasion to seize Panama from Columbia. But the revolutionary movement, funded by J.P. Morgan, seizes the moment, secedes from Colombia and announces the new of Republic of Panama. They’re backed-up by the American Navy sent to Panama to protect the Panamanian railroad, by treaty.
TR immediately recognizes the Republic of Panama and begins successful negotiations for building the canal. Roosevelt maintains the revolution was spontaneous and he had no involvement. (Hah!)
Throughout the story TR exhibits the strengths and foibles of America’s most fascinating president: • He changes the name of the Executive Mansion to “The White House.” • He leads bodyguards on a horseback chase through Rock Creek Park, shooting his pistol. • He spars with ex-heavyweight boxing champion John L. Sullivan. • He swims the icy Potomac River completely naked. • He leads his cabinet in a musical romp on the Presidential yacht. • He invites Black activist Booker T. Washington to dinner at the White House. • He submerses in the first American submarine, the U.S.S Plunger.
As the story ends, TR is asked to mediate the Russo-Japanese war. “That’s a bully idea,” he says, “absolutely bully!”
Screenplays
Jim specializes in screenplays based on historical true events (including musicals), bio/pics and/or disasters. In alphabetical order:
“BOJANGLES, EUBIE AND BERT!” Three Black musical legends of the past – Bert Williams, Eubie Blake and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson – relive their show business success in spite of racism and theatrical bigotry.
New York Screenplay (First Place) [2019]
Emerging Screenwriters (Semifinalist) [2019]
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ScriptLinks
Post Your Script Here!Fingertips .
A Psychological Horror With a twist of a psychotic individual suffering from psychosocial issues has an imaginary friend that’s part of his hallucinations his Imaginary friend is his British father a young proud to be American, forgets his medication after collecting it from a Pharmacy he causes a lot of mayhem around his area he thinks the worlds in his fingertips he chases down social media Influencers and artists by hacking and tracking their location constantly talking to himself as he hallucinates thinking He can see his British Father is around him, Kevin ends up with a chainsaw and gets a few round kills with his Chainsaw he stole from an old granny.
LA Nights
It is 1973, and Quick operates an upscale after-hours establishment in West Los Angeles alongside his socialite son, Dizzy.
The Coventry Deception
After a crisis thrusts him into the presidency, Robert Gorley confronts the challenges of leadership as he deals with a power struggle, an assassination attempt, and a ruthless terrorist plot to launch multiple attacks on US soil.
Untouchable!
A blonde bombshell in stainless steel becomes a femme fatale - a relentless tiger with razor-sharp-toothed-pen spilling blood across the pages leaving nowhere, for the perpetrators - to turn - to hide - no 'out'! .
Burning Old Man
A group of grade school friends reconnect to throw a communal sixty-fifth birthday party for one another - leading to a Burning Man type celebration.
Attachment In (Pilot)
An ancient being is summoned to fight an evil entity but first both have to attach within a human body at birth, grow up and navigate life before meeting in an epic battle where winner takes all.
Between The Flames
Wildfires are the least of her worries, when a college athlete lands a job on a Hotshot Crew in the 80's where she meets her best friend plus two love interests who want her for very different agendas during an intense drought year.
In Between The River
Katie (on the spectrum) thinks her nomadic family is normal but as she transitions from child to teenager; her father Donald is frequently absent, her mother Judy tries too hard to hold them together and her older brother Kyle hides a secret that eventually surfaces to expose the family illusion.
PAPER TRAIL
When a young Army MP becomes a private investigator after he inherits his Grandfather’s storefront in a small town in the mountains of Colorado; his first case reveals a town full of secrets, including one that destroyed his family years before, and a new one he must forever keep from his fiancée.
THE AMAZING TOOTHBRUSH
A 11yr old boy receives a special toothbrush.