Petition asks Patty Guggenheim to read prison screenplay
More than 2000 women sign petition demanding a firm commitment from Patty Guggenheim (film producer) to read screenplay addressing Texas judicial system
Patty Guggenheim – Talent Agents
– Actress, Producer, Writer – Florida Girls (2019), Splitting Up Together (2018), Barely Famous (2015), Mary + Jane (2016) – Agency for the Performing Arts (APA), Danny Robinson – 3 Arts Entertainment, Dave Becky
Patty Guggenheim & Adam Sandler’s film company targeted by Texas petition
Will Hollywood just rollover and let prisoner’s suffer?
EXCLUSIVE
More than 2000 women have signed an open letter to Adam Sandler calling on Patty Guggenheim and Hollywood to take “movie action” to tackle injustice against men and women in the wake of revelations that Texas has more prisoners incarcerated than the Soviet Union’s gulag system had. Texas currently has over 290,000 inmates housed at 580 facilities.
The signatories, including state senators, professors of criminal justice, social workers, family, and inmates, call for a “firm commitment” to tackle the unjust prisons in Texas. The petition has also been signed by Beto O’Rourke, and Matthew McConaughey. These two signatories might face each other in the 2022 Texas governors election. Both have expressed interest in the job. The petitions arrived for Patty Guggenheim at Agency for the Performing Arts (APA), Danny Robinson last week.
In the open letter to Patty Guggenheim, the 2080 women write that they are “heartbroken for first-time drug offenders many times addicts who have received extremely harsh sentences in Texas when rehabilitation has proven a cheaper and more effective solution.” The petition goes on to say their family and friends are often heartbroken for and looking for redemption and rehabilitation for the victimless drug crimes.”
The signatories, including attorneys, professors, politicians, family members, and inmates, call on Patty Guggenheim for a ‘firm film commitment’ to tackle the issue of operating the Texas prison system for profit.
The petition came to light when women discovered the screenplay, a copy which was dontated to all 580 of the state’s prison and jail libraries. The existence of the petition surfaced on International Women’s Day. Women in Texas face extreme prejudice in Texas and often receive extremely harsh penalties for even a small amount of drugs, including marijuana. Marijuana is legal now in 21 states.
Inside prisons, the women are faced with such horrendous conditions… the petition demands that “filmmakers begin to take the issue seriously.” Also, the petition reminds that “even here in the USA in the 21st century citizens are not safe from government oppression.”
Actress, Producer, Writer, Patty Guggenheim, has not responded to the petition. Nor has Agency for the Performing Arts (APA), Danny Robinson responded with a comment.
Alan Nafzger/caption]
The screenplay “Dumbass” was penned by writer and retired professor of political science Alan Nafzger.
The premise of the story is that, “Adam Sandler writes letters and saves numerous women from the monotony of prison life, and later when he gets into trouble with a drug cartel they return the favor by rescuing him.”
The film would be set in contemporary, Gatesville Texas. There are four women’s prisons located in Gatesville. And of course, Texas is famous for putting everyone in prison for a long sentences for little or no reason. The number of women in Texas prisons has tripled in the last ten years, as mass incarcerations have proven profitable to not only the state but also profitable for an array of business interests.
Writer Alan Nafzger has called on Governor Greg Abbott to, “end the prison industry.”
Recently, “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak spoke out against the Texas system and put a good word in for mercy and forgiveness out on social media. “How nice for those who have lived such exemplary lives that they can express glee when others have their lives ruined by a mistake, real or perceived,” Sajak tweeted last month.
During the winter’s deep freeze, the The Marshall Project, exposed the horrible prison conditions, “Inside Frigid Texas Prisons: Broken Toilets, Disgusting Food, Few Blankets.”
The petition states, “Why don’t we have the ‘Adam Sandler’ character… sending letters to women in prison and being their friend and trying to help them adjust, giving them hope… and when they get out of prison he picks them up so they don’t have to ride the smelly bus back home… but his pickup truck is a junker, smoking and sputtering … worse than the bus. But his heart is in the right place… He’s the last “chivalrous” man on earth.”
Patty Guggenheim has not commented on the script, thus far. A statement is expected soon.
Professor Nafzger has made a short treatment of the project available online.
He has made the finished script available at for select filmmakers.
Adam Sandler of Happy Madison Productions has expressed interest in the screenplay.
Patty Guggenheim is a Actress, Producer, Writer known for Florida Girls (2019), Splitting Up Together (2018), Barely Famous (2015), Mary + Jane (2016) and is represented by Agency for the Performing Arts (APA), Danny Robinson.
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The internal conflict MUST be related to love. This is one of the areas where screenwriters stray from the RomCom formula. No matter what internal conflict the main characters (both male/female) have, it must be related to love. For example, a self-esteem issue could stem from being left at the altar in a previous relationship, a courage issue could stem from not having the courage to leave a previous relationship and take a chance on a relationship that works, etc. The trick is to make sure BOTH leads have an internal issue related to love. If one doesn’t, then it’s a Comedy, not a RomCom.
INTERNAL CONFLICT
RomCom’s are famous for their establishing shots. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen the New York City landscape, a favorite location for RomCom’s. If the screenwriter uses a more specific location (other than a large landscape, like a house), then just make sure the story ends with this scene. For example, in the film While You Were Sleeping we’re in the train station (Chicago) and that’s where the story ends.
ESTABLISHING SHOT
– In The Silence of the Lambs, when Catherine is kidnapped, Clarice is warned by her FBI roommate and ally that if she doesn’t study for and take her FBI exams, she’ll be kicked out of the program. Of course Clarice puts Catherine’s well-being above her own; that’s why we love her — but the looming exams and threat of expulsion are a great way to back her into a corner and force hard choices.
These escalating actions will often lead to HARD CHOICES and CROSSING THE LINE: The hero/ine actually starts doing things that are against character, self-destructive, or downright immoral.
Now the actions your hero/ine takes toward his or her goal will become larger and increasingly obsessive. Small actions have not cut it, so it’s time for desperate measures.
ESCALATING ACTIONS/OBSESSIVE DRIVE