A family awakening unravels after a suicide attempt leaves the southern family to dismantle their beliefs or be torn apart. A true personal story with an added M. Night Shyamalan inspired twist ending.
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In a quaint Southern town, where tradition is valued above all else, the close-knit Collinsworth family find themselves in a tumultuous upheaval. Following a harrowing suicide attempt by Carter, the family's youngest daughter, the Collinsworths are pushed to the brink, and their seemingly serene life begins to crack at the seams.
As the film opens, Carter survives her suicide attempt but is left in a fragile state. Her mother, Jean Ann, isn’t as steeped in their Southern conservative beliefs as the rest of the family. The entire family struggles to understand and come to terms with what Carter has done. Meanwhile, Carter’s older sister, Sissy, who married early to escape the suffocating atmosphere of their home, returns to scold her sister as they are drastic opposites.
As Carter struggles with her voice, she comes out to her mother, Jean Ann, who already knew in her heart of her daughter’s identity. The endearing mother and daughter relationship grows despite judgements, years of grappling with her sexual identity and the feeling of suffocation under her family's conservative values. The tension escalates as the family suggests conversion therapy. As the family members confront their demons, they are faced with a profound decision: to dismantle their lifelong beliefs or risk being torn apart forever.
Through communication, healing, and support, the family must also go through an awakening due to the traumatic event with Carter. Sissy tries to be the controlling big sister, but struggles to choose love for her sister over religious beliefs and conformity. Aunt Dolly is the matriarch and brings the family back to love and is the force for demanding repair.
The M. Night Shyamalan-inspired twist reveals itself in the film’s final act that you will have to read as we don’t want to spoil it. This traumatic event with the Collinsworth family will have Jean Ann embrace her own awakening. She must be a stand in her own family for change, showing acceptance, boldly choosing love over judgements and discrimination. How would you react if your child thought they would be better dead than alive?
Suicide is a hard topic to discuss for many and everyone has their own way of dealing with the inevitable of life…death. Discrimination and hate crimes plague the LGBTQ+ community in devastating numbers and the source of majority of death by suicide or attempts. People have the choice for empowered change. We are in desperate need of change.
Based on Dina's real-life experiences, this film offers a raw and authentic look into mental health struggles and family dynamics, which could resonate deeply with audiences and bring a level of authenticity that is palpable and engaging.
Inspired by the style of M. Night Shyamalan, the film’s twist ending promises to challenge audiences’ expectations and leave a lasting impact, setting it apart from other dramas in a surprising and memorable way.
At just 16 pages, the screenplay is designed to be a tight and focused narrative. This short format is not only trendy and appealing to various film festivals, but also allows for potentially lower production costs and a quicker production timeline.
The story offers a poignant examination of a Southern family’s struggle with deep-seated beliefs, shedding light on issues of acceptance, love, and change that are universal themes yet deeply personal and relatable to many.
This film addresses the critical issue of mental health and suicide, aiming to promote awareness and stimulate conversations around these topics, which are more important than ever in today’s society.
The character of Carter and Jean Ann presents an opportunity for powerful and emotional female lead roles, which could attract top acting talent looking for substantial, meaningful characters to portray.
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