Petition asks Brian Kerwin to read prison screenplay
More than 2000 women sign petition demanding a firm commitment from Brian Kerwin (film producer) to read screenplay addressing Texas judicial system
Brian Kerwin – Talent Agents
– Actor, Producer, Soundtrack – Jack (1996), 27 Dresses (2008), Torch Song Trilogy (1988), One Life to Live (1968) – Paradigm Talent Agency, Alisa Adler – Winsome Entertainment, A.D. Oppenheim
Brian Kerwin & Adam Sandler’s film company targeted by Texas petition
Will Hollywood just rollover and let prisoner’s suffer?
EXCLUSIVE
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 Brian Kerwin at Paradigm Talent Agency, Alisa Adler last week.
In the open letter to Brian Kerwin, 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 Brian Kerwin 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.”
Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Brian Kerwin, has not responded to the petition. Nor has Paradigm Talent Agency, Alisa Adler responded with a comment.
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.
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.”
Brian Kerwin has not commented on the script, thusfar. 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.
Jana Sandler of Happy Madison Productions has also expressed interest in the screenplay.
Brian Kerwin is a Actor, Producer, Soundtrack known for Jack (1996), 27 Dresses (2008), Torch Song Trilogy (1988), One Life to Live (1968) and is represented by Paradigm Talent Agency, Alisa Adler.
——————- READ MORE ——————-
Add an extra commercial touch to a character by making his or her name fit the role, like in the Will Smith romantic comedy Hitch. This guy helps couples get “hitched” and his name is Hitch. Remember Rocky? What about Joe Dirt? Who could forget Dirty Harry? The name doesn’t have to correspond to the title, but it should reflect the character and/or story, if possible.
COMMERCIALIZE A HERO’S NAME
The goal is obvious = to make your character memorable and commercially enticing. However, you must make certain that the introduction directly reflects the plot and sets the tone, mood and atmosphere of the story.
2) Ordinary introductions have been done in film, but they make a tough first sale. Stick with making the introduction as intriguing as possible.
PLACE is a hugely important element of a climax. Great stories usually, if not almost always, end in a location that has thematic and symbolic meaning. Here, once again, creating a visual and thematic image system for your story will serve you well, as will thinking in terms of SETPIECES (as we’ve talked about before). Obviously the climax should be the biggest setpiece sequence of all.
The battle is also a chance to pay off all your setups and plants. Very often you will have set up a weakness for your hero/ine. That weakness that has caused him or her to fail repeatedly in previous tests, and in the battle, the hero/ine’s great weakness will be tested.
There is very often a moment in the climax when the hero/ine will realize that s/he and the antagonist are mirror images of each other. And/or the antagonist may provide a revelation at the moment of confrontation that nearly destroys the hero/ine… yet ultimately makes him or her stronger. (Think “I am your father” in The Empire Strikes Back.)
#NAME?