GENERAL GRANT IS DOOMED!
“NEVER RETREAT, NEVER SURRENDER!” Ex-President Ulysses S. Grant struggles to complete his “Personal Memoirs” while combatting terminal cancer. He produces a masterpiece. The true story. Can be expanded to TV miniseries. Professional Coverage: “Recommend” - Dave Trottier (Author, The Screenwriter’s Bible) Multiple contest wins and placements
Undaunted, Grant proceeds with the formidable writing project in spite of violent coughing fits and a deteriorating physical condition.
Grant’s memories are depicted in the film as he writes the “Memoirs”. He recounts…
• The early days at West Point, his outstanding horsemanship, mathematical ability, and artistic talents, • His physical strength and heroic performance in the Mexican War, including encounters with Robert E. Lee, • His determination in leading his regiment to a California outpost via Isthmus of Panama during a cholera epidemic, • His resignation from the Army, drinking accusations, and subsequent failure in business, • His recall to active duty in the Civil War, and meteoric rise to Brigadier General, • His unique ability to concentrate and evaluate a situation – military or otherwise – and develop a clear, practical solution that works, • The Battle of Fort Donelson -- where he becomes “Unconditional Surrender” Grant, • His inner turmoil over Civil War casualties, • The surrender of General Lee at Appomattox.
Grant suffers greatly during this writing ordeal. He is unable to swallow without intense pain, and eventually loses his ability to speak.
His wife Julia, and children Nellie and Fred Grant stand by him – and also suffer -- throughout this ordeal.
Grant’s illness sparks a nation-wide death watch. Reporters camp out by his home and even try to dupe his doctors and the housemaid to get further information.
Then Grant has a severe choking experience which nearly kills him. Saved by his doctors – who use a unique medical procedure -- the Ol’ Warrior rallies and vows to finish his manuscript.
In June, 1885 Grant is moved to the Mt. McGregor Cottage in upstate New York to avoid the blistering heat of New York City.
There he complete his manuscript and dies on July 23, 1885.
The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant were published shortly after his death. Mark Twain's company printed 350,000 sets -- 700,000 volumes -- a record number of books for that time.
Grant’s “Personal Memoirs” were a great success -- praised by the public, historians and literary critics. They have been acclaimed as the foremost military memoir in the English Language.
They have never gone out of print.
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.
ScriptLinks
Post Your Script Here!Gray and Lover The Hearth Tales Incident
When a revenge-driven summoning unleashes a demon on Seattle, legendary hunters Gray and Lover must stop a supernatural escalation before the world goes up in flames.
Xanadu Shores - Proof of Concept
Four friends become enmeshed in a gold heist turned kidnapping chased by a capricious Federal agent and his comely accomplice by land, air and sea, culminating explosively on Xanadu Shores.
Xanadu Shores: Proof of Concept (PoC) Eight Central Characters.
Proof of Concept Logline, introduces the eight central characters in an intense office situation before the the action unfolds later that day when four friends become enmeshed in a heist, kidnapping and escape plot, chased by a capricious Fed and his comely accomplice by land, air and sea, culminating explosively on Xanadu Shores - The Trilogy.
Xanadu Shores III - Rescuing Atlas
“Rescuing Atlas” the trilogy’s peak begins when an astrophysicist - megalomaniac and boat racing enthusiast, operating from his island, becomes hell-bent on blackmailing the world.
Xanadu Shores: SEAN LANDERS Intro 10 Pages.
A pilot returns home anticipating matrimony soon learning his fiance has cleaned out their wedding account and moved to Las Vegas.
Xanadu Shores II: All That Glitters
Four friends known as the "Xanadu Team get duped by a nefarious jeweler in a casino robbery which leads them to an international conspiracy disguised as an art heist.
Xanadu Shores -
Four friends become enmeshed in a gold heist turned kidnapping chased by a capricious Federal agent and his comely accomplice by land, air and sea, culminating explosively on Xanadu Shores-"The Pilot".
The Last Salvation – Script-BASED FILM BUDGET
Genre: Apocalyptic Spiritual Sci-Fi Target Budget: $4,700,000 Shoot: 25 Days / 38 Locations / 120 Script Pages VFX Shots: ~210
I Am a Witness – Script-BASED FILM BUDGET
VFX Shots: ~200 Genre: Spiritual Sci-Fi / Supernatural Drama Estimated Runtime: 110 min Budget Level: Independent Mid-Range Shoot: 25 Days / 30 Locations / 110 Script Pages
Amir's America
Pilot logline: Desperate to hold his family together, an Iranian dad starts midweek dinners with his American wife and teens—only to have night one crash into chaos when surprise relatives show up uninvited and unfiltered in their small California town.
